Other Scientific Names
Turnix castanota [Collar and Andrew (1988)], Turnix castanota [Collar et al. (1994)], Turnix castanota [BirdLife International (2000)], Turnix castanota [BirdLife International (2004)], Turnix castanota [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)]
Other Names (World)
Chestnut-backed Buttonquail, Thick-billed Quail
Chestnut-backed Buttonquail (Turnix castanotus) [XC479119]
by Nigel Jackett from NBF08, Kakadu, West Arnhem Shire, Northern Territory, Australia (call)
Chestnut-backed Buttonquail (Turnix castanotus) [XC720427]
by id from Mudnunn, Dampier Peninsula, Shire of Broome, Western Australia, Australia (call)
Nest
A depression beneath a tussock or in a clump of grass, usually near water.
Eggs (Guide)
Usually 4; glossy, white, finely speckled with light brown, blotched all over with brown, blue-grey and black; round to pyriform; about 25 x 19 mm. Incubation: 14 - 15 days; by male.
Young
Probably precocial, nidifugous.
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Buff-breasted Button-quail (Turnix olivii) and Painted Button-quail (Turnix varius) and sometimes considered conspecific with Buff-breasted Button-quail (Turnix olivii), but differs in bill size and details of plumage. Invalid subspecies magnifica (north-western Australia), melvillensis (Melville I) and alligator (northern Australia) no longer recognized, because based on individual rather than geographical variation.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Little Button-quail (Turnix velox) which is slightly smaller, has grey underparts, and the white streaking on the upperparts extends past the rump into the tail, and Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus) which has uniformly brown upperparts including the wings, visible in flight.
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
BirdLife International Species Factsheet